The Rookie: Joker Marchant Stadium in Tigertown

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First stop in the Astros’ Grapefruit League road show is Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla., home of the Detroit Tigers.

I have been here for only a couple of hours, but I have to tell you I love this place.

It has been remodeled, but it retains this old-school feel for the most part (just try not to look at the bleachers along left field). Maybe it is the architecture, but you get the sense it’s 1966 (which, by the way, was the year the stadium, now capacity 8,500, opened).

Tigers fans keep the concourse packed, which makes it even better. Good crowd on hand for the game.

Bernardo Fallas / Chronicle

The Astros and Tigers played the main game at 12:05 p.m. get periodic updates by clicking here.

The team played an earlier game, dubbed a B Game, which the Astros won 4-1.